Lawyers seek early end to Cafaro’s probation

Lawyers for John J. Cafaro, former Cafaro Co. vice president, have filed a motion for early termination of his three-year federal court probation.

Cafaro was sentenced in June 2010 to probation, fined $250,000 and ordered to perform 150 hours of community service after he pleaded guilty to making a false statement about a contribution he gave to the unsuccessful 2004 congressional campaign of his daughter, state Sen. Capri Cafaro of Liberty, D-32nd.

John Cafaro caused his daughter’s campaign committee to falsely report to the Federal Election Commission that he had given only $2,000 to her campaign, when, in fact, he gave an additional $10,000 in the form of a loan to a campaign staff member for the campaign’s benefit, the U.S. attorney said.

John Cafaro’s Cleveland lawyers, Ralph E. Cascarilla and Darrell A. Clay, wrote in their motion that their client’s probation should be terminated because he has completed the required one-year minimum of supervision; he has paid his fine and fulfilled his community service obligation; he has fully complied with the terms of his probation; and the federal probation office does not oppose early termination of his supervision.

The lawyers also noted that John Cafaro returned without incident from a court-authorized trip to Europe in June 2011.

A condition of his probation is that Cafaro, 59, of Hubbard, may not leave northern Ohio without permission from the court or his probation officer.

John Cafaro was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kathleen O’Malley, who has since become a federal appeals judge, and the decision whether to end his probation will be made by U.S. District Judge Donald Nugent, who was given the case after her departure.

Justin J. Roberts, the assistant U.S. attorney who prosecuted the case, could not be reached to comment on his position on the Cafaro motion.